Description: Carmen Perez-Dickson sued the Bridgeport Board of Education on a wrongful termination and intentional inflection of emotional distress theories claiming that she was fired in retaliation for for turning in two teachers who allegedly abused minority.

In 2006, Perez-Dickson filed suit against the board, Assistant Supt. of Schools Henry Kelly and former interim Supt. Daniel Shamas, claiming they discriminated and retaliated against her for reporting to administrators and the state Department of Children and Families that two white teachers had abused minority children in 1998 and 1999 at the Beardsley Elementary School. Perez-Dickson is black and Latino.

Plaintiff claimed that after the two teachers were disciplined for their actions, Perez-Dickson was transferred to Roosevelt School, a lower-paying assignment, without just cause.

In November 2005, she was placed on administrative leave following allegations she improperly hugged students at Roosevelt. She claims school officials wouldn't tell her what the allegations against her were and instead she learned about the allegations as reported in the Connecticut Post.

The defenses asserted by defendants are not available.

Outcome: In March, a jury of five men and one woman deliberated about three hours before awarding Roosevelt School Principal Carmen Perez-Dickson $1 million in punitive damages, $1 million in non-economic damages and $3,000 in economic damages. Reduced by the Court by $1 million on post trial motions.